Thill and trace connector



(No'Model.)

M. PAYNE. THILL AND TRACE CONNECTOR.

No. 595,862. Patented Deo. 21.,V 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

MARTIN PAYNE, OF TROY, NEWVYORK.

THILL AND TRACE CONNECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of vLetters Patent No. 595,862, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed April 2 8 1 8 9 7.

To all whom it may concern,-

Be it known that I, MARTIN PAYNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in

the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulL Referring to the accompanying drawings,A

wherein like letters are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views, Figure l represents a vertical mid-sectional view of my invention attached to a thill, the means and method of joining the conductor to both thill and trace being shown. Fig. 2 represents an end view of the sliding hollow piston-thimble and hook. Figrepresents a side view of the slidinghollow piston-thimble and hook and from the right-hand end of the piece held as in this figure the view drawn in the second figure was taken. Fig. et represents a top view of the parts delineated in the second and third gures, and Fig. V5 represents a top\view of all the parts of my invention when properly assembled.

Considering Fig. l, A designates a hollow casing, customarily cylindrical, having one closed end B, and provided eXteriorly with projecting ears C and D, one placed at each end of the casing and both pierced by screwholes, through which the casing may be screwed upon a thill. In practice ears Cand D are occasionally placed upon the side of the casing instead of upon that portion directly opposite the trace-hook, (see also Fig. 5,) their positions being determined by the conditions and requirements of the purchasers.

E marks a longitudinal slot extending from the open end of casing A toward end B. The open end of casing A is interiorly Serial No. 634,227. (No model.)

threaded, and a threaded stopper F'closes the opening. Centrally located through stopper F is oriicef, which will be again mentioned. It is usual to form orifice fangular in cross-section in order that a tool having an end correspondingly shaped can be inserted in the oritlce, whereby the stopper may be unscrewed or tightened. By following this plan of construction stopper F may iit iiush with the casing end,.thusadding to the cornpact appearance of the connector.

G marks the smoothly-bored interior of casing A, having all permissible length.

Letter H marks the sliding piston-acting thimble shown in all the views, particularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Ordinarily ahollow cylinder, the thimble is fashioned to tit bore G closely, but movably. J designates the closed end of the thimble and is pierced by a central oriiice j. When thimble H and stopper F are in contact, orifices f and j complete a passage to the interior of the casing. Through the passage thus afforded the compressed air confined by the movement of the thimble escapes.

K marks the trace-hook, having projecting Wings (see Fig. 2) and an orifice L. In Fig. l is shown one method of attaching a trace M to hook K. Through a longitudinal slit m in the trace the hook is passed and the trace turned to bring the wings of hook K across the cut. A latching-tongue N, attached to the trace, is then passed through oriiice L to prevent accidental detachment of the trace. The expedients just described are very common and need no further attention here. Hook K and thimble H are joined bya block O, constructed to tit and travel in slot E. A slot-cover P is often formed integral with hook and thimble, but is not essential and may be dispensed with. (See Fig. 5.) The oiiice of cover P is to prevent the entrance of solid particles likely to obstruct the operation of thev invention.

Special attention is called to spring Q,coiled within and occupying approximately the entire inner length of the casing. It waswith the intention of utilizing a spring of the greatest practicable length that the peculiar formation of parts hereinabove detailed has been devised. One end of spring Q abuts against the inner surface of end J of the thimble, the

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remaining end of the spring meeting the inner surface of end B of the casing. All the available space is therefore occupied by the spring.

The inode of operation is believed to be indicated with sufficient clearness in the drawings. A pair of shafts require, of course, a pair of connectors, each yielding independently to the amount of pull upon the trace to which it is attached. By properly proportioning the length of the piston-thilnble no jamming in bore G results, and the length of spring Q aiiords as much play as it is possi ble to obtain in this class of devices.

I ain aware that sliding spring-governed hooks with suitable casings are constructed and in use, but I have no knowledge of the existence of the special structure set out in my present application.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a thill and trace connector, the combination of a suitable casing adapted to be fixed upon a thill, said casing having a lonble constructed to lit said bore inovably, a`

trace hook connected With the thimble through the slot in said casing, a spring, and orifices opening into said casing, substantial] y as described.

2. In a thill and trace connector, the coinbination of the closed casing A adapted to be xed upon a thill and having an interior bore and perforated stopper F, said casing provided With a longitudinal slot, the hollow pistoirthiinble I-I having one open and one perforated end, the trace-hook K provided with a slot-cover and joined to said thiinble through said slot, and a coiled spring, substantially as described.

In Witness whereci:` I hereunto set 1n y hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

MARTIN PAYNE.

Titn esses:

Jol-1N I-I. KNOX, XV. E. HAGAN. 

